"And I have found both freedom and safety in my madness, the freedom of loneliness and the safety from being understood, for those who understand us enslave something in us. But let me not be too proud of my safety. Even a Thief in a jail is safe from another thief. "

Khalil Gibran (How I Became a Madman)

Lübnan Marunîleri / Yasin Atlıoğlu

NEWS AND ARTICLES / HABERLER VE MAKALELER

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Syrian Army Liberated Resafah And Advances Further To Encircle Saraqib- South Front

The defense of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and other favourites of foreign supportes ‘the Syrian democracy’ are collapsing in the province of Idlib.


Following large gains on February 4, the Syrian Army continued advancing on February 5. Government forces liberated the town of Resafah and several nearby villages. Thus, they isolated the militant stronghold of Sraqib from the eastern direction.

The advance came amid an intense bombing campaign by the Syrian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Forces. Turkish observation posts created in the area apparently do not help to contain the Syrian Army offensive.

If the situation develops in this direction, Saraqib may be fully encircled by the end of the day.

Erdogan Urges Syria to Back off Turkish Observation Posts- Naharnet

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Syria on Wednesday to withdraw its troops from its military observation posts in northwestern Idlib province where clashes have intensified in recent days. 
"At the moment, two of our 12 observation posts are behind the regime's lines. We hope the regime will withdraw from our observation posts before the end of the month of February," he told a meeting of his ruling party in Ankara.  
"If the regime does not pull back, Turkey will be obliged to take matters into its own hands."
Eight Turkish troops and civilians were killed on Monday by regime fire in Idlib -- the last opposition bastion in the conflict-torn country. 
Turkey killed at least 13 Syrian government troops in response, according to monitors, in the deadliest clashes since Ankara sent troops to Syria in 2016.
Erdogan has criticised Russia, a key backer of President Bashar al-Assad's regime, for failing to enforce peace agreements in the region and called for Moscow to "better understand our sensitivities in Syria".
"From now we will not turn a blind eye to any step that constitutes the violation of the agreements," he added. 
Erdogan said this week's clashes amounted to a "new era" in Syria, and that any further attacks would be "responded to in kind".
"The air and ground elements of the Turkish armed forces will freely move in the Idlib region and if needed will launch an operation," he said. 

Erdoğan: Rejim Şubat ayında çekilmezse gereğini yapacağız- Şarkul Avsat

Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan Suriye'deki son gelişmeleri değerlendirdi. Erdoğan "Sayın Putin’e, rejim gözlem noktaları gerisine çekilmeli dedim. 12 gözlem noktamızın ikisi rejim hattının gerisinde. Şubat ayı içerisinde rejimin gözlem noktalarımızın gerisine çekilme işleminin bitirilmesini umut ediyoruz. Askerimiz gerekirse serbestçe hareket edip operasyon yapacak" dedi.

Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, partisinin grup toplantısında konuştu. "Askerlerimize yapılan saldırı Türkiye açısından Suriye'de yeni bir dönemin ilanıdır" diyen Erdoğan, "Türk askerinin kanının aktığı yerde hiçbir şeyin aynı şekilde devam etmesine izin veremeyiz" dedi.

Government Forces Liberated 110km2 In Southeastern Idlib Since February 4 Morning-

The Syrian Army and its allies have liberated 110km2 from radical militants in the Syrian province of Idlib since February 4 morning. The former militant strong points of Sheikh Edris, Balisah, Tal Mardkih, Kafr Amim are within the liberated area.


With this advance, government troops secured the entire southeastern countryside of the militant stronghold of Saraqib, which Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (formerly the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda) and other radical groups use as a key hub on the crossroad of the M4 and M5 highways.

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

Syrian Army Gives Idlib Militants Last Chance to Lay Down Arms - Syrian TV Citing Military Source- Sputnik News

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier expressed readiness to retaliate after its servicemen were killed in the province of Idlib in an attack by Syrian government forces.
The General Staff of the Syrian army said it gives one last chance to the militants operating in the province of Idlib to lay down their arms, Ikhbariya news agency reported on Tuesday citing a military source, adding that the Syrian Army was ready to repel any Turkish aggression in the province.
"Our armed forces are trying to give the last chance to the militants and save the lives of the besieged civilians. The army units operating in the region have been ordered to allow those who decide not to rely on the support of the Turkish forces, to surrender their weapons", the source said.
The source added that the Syrian Army was continuing its military operation against the militants, who have been fighting civilians and using them as "shields" in Saraqib and Tell Touqan in Idlib.
On 3 February, the Turkish Defence Ministry said that six Turkish servicemen had been killed in an attack by the Syrian Army in Idlib.
The Turkish military presence in Syria has never been sanctioned either by Damascus nor the UN Security Council. Turkey says its forces are deployed in the region in order to prevent conflicts in Idlib.
Fighting has escalated in Syria's Idlib recently, as the Syrian government has been struggling to recapture control over the area, which remains a major terrorist stronghold in the country.

Syrian Army advances to outskirts of Saraqib: video- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:15 P.M.) -Syrian Arab Army (SAA) forces advanced with armoured vehicles, tanks and heavy artillery deeper into the Idlib countryside, closing in on the town of Saraqib on Monday.

Footage shows heavy artillery being fired, explosions in the distance and helicopters in the sky.

Pompeo'dan İdlib Mesajı: ‘NATO Müttefikimiz Türkiye’nin Yanındayız’- VOA Türkçe

ABD Dışişleri Bakanı Mike Pompeo, İdlib’de Türk askerlerini hedef alan Suriye rejim güçlerini gerilimi ağır şekilde tırmandırmakla suçladı ve ’’NATO müttefikimiz Türkiye’nin yanındayız’’ mesajını verdi.

Pompeo yaptığı yazılı açıklamada, ‘’Esat rejimi, Rusya, İran ve Hizbullah tarafından Idlib halkına yönelik devam eden, yersiz ve acımasız saldırıları ABD olarak bir kez daha kınıyoruz’’ dedi. Pompeo, ‘’Esat rejimi güçlerince 3 Şubat’ta Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri'ne ait gözlem noktalarına yönelik havan topu saldırısının gerilimi ağır şekilde tırmandırdırdığını ve siviller, insani yardım çalışanları ve altyapı tesislerine karşı sürdürülen zalimce saldırıları takiben düzenlendiğini’’ belirtti.

Erdoğan, Putin ile İdlib’i görüştü- Sputnik News

Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Rusya Devlet Başkanı Vladimir Putin ile bir telefon görüşmesi gerçekleştirdi. İki liderin görüşmesinde İdlib konusunun gündeme geldiği belirtildi.

Türkiye Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Rusya Devlet Başkanı Vladimir Putin ile telefonda görüştü. İletişim Başkanlığı'ndan konuyla ilgili yapılan açıklamada:
''Cumhurbaşkanımız Sayın Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Rusya Devlet Başkanı Sayın Vladimir Putin ile bir telefon görüşmesi gerçekleştirmiştir.
Sayın Cumhurbaşkanımız görüşmede, İdlib’de çatışmaların önlenmesi maksadıyla bölgeye sevk edilen Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri unsurlarına Esed rejimi tarafından düzenlenen saldırının, Suriye’de barış için yürütülen ortak çabalara darbe vurduğunu ifade etmiş, Türkiye’nin benzer saldırılara karşı meşru müdafaa hakkını en sert şekilde kullanmaya devam edeceğini belirtmiştir.
Görüşmede, Suriye ve Libya’daki diğer gelişmeler ile ikili ilişkiler de ele alınmıştır'' ifadeleri kullanıldı.

UN Chief Urges End to Fighting between Turkey and Syrian Regime in Idlib- Asharq Al-Awsat

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called Tuesday for an end to fighting between Turkey and Syria in Syria's opposition-held province of Idlib on Tuesday.

Guterres told reporters it was an "extremely worrying" escalation in the conflict that the Turkish army and the Syrian regime were now "bombing each other" in the restive northwest region.

"My strong appeal is for a cessation of hostilities," he said.

"We don't believe there is a military solution for the conflict in Syria. We have said time and time again that the solution is political," Guterres added.

Weapons, ammunition left by terrorists found in Yalda town, Damascus Countryside- SANA

Damascus Countryside, SANA- While completing the process of securing the areas which had been liberated from terrorism by the Syrian Arab Army, the authorities on Wednesday found weapons and ammunition, some of them are U.S.-made, as they were left by terrorists in the town of Yalda in Damascus Countryside.
SANA’s reporter said that the competent authorities in cooperation with the locals have found weapons and ammunition in Yalda town in Damascus Countryside, including U.S.-made missiles, as they were hidden in one of the farms and they were wrapped in tin in order not to be discovered by the radars.
The reporter that the seized weapons included U.S.-made TOW missiles and one of their launch-pads, boxes of 14.5mm bullets, and a number of automatic rifles, in addition to 82mm mortar shells, RPG shells PKC machineguns and anti-armor base.
Since declaring Damascus and its countryside free of terrorism in May 2018, huge amounts of weapons and ammunition left by terrorists in several areas in Damascus Countryside, including U.S-made, Western-made and Israeli-made weapons and ammunition.

Army liberates al-Nairab village north of Aleppo-Lattakia International Highway, Idleb countryside- SANA

Idleb, SANA- During their operations against terrorist organizations in the direction of Saraqeb City in Idleb Syrian Arab Army units have liberated al-Nairab village, north of Aleppo-Lattakia International Highway after fierce battles with terrorists’ gatherings in them.

SANA’s reporter said that after liberating the villages of Joubas, San and Trinbeh on Monday, army units intensified their operations in the direction of Saraqeb in Idleb southeastern countryside and liberated the village of al-Nairab to the north of Aleppo-Lattakia International Highway after destroying terrorists’ fortifications and a number of their positions and after forcing them to flee away, in addition to cutting their supply routes between Saraqeb and Ariha.

The reporter added that army units today have engaged in fierce clashes with terrorist groups in the surroundings of Kaddour and Rwaiha west of Saraqeb amid a state of collapse among the ranks of terrorists after destroying their frontlines and fortifications.

Over the past few days, army units have advanced in the direction of Saraqeb and they have liberated the villages of Joubas, San, Inqrati, Kafr Batikh and Kafr Dadikh in Idleb southeastern countryside after fierce battles with terrorist organizations as the army units have expanded their military operations in the direction of Saraqeb City.

Regime forces advance further into Saraqeb and Ariha, nearly 60 areas captured in Idlib so far- SOHR

SOHR sources report that intensive aerial bombardment continued on various areas in Idlib province. Russian and regime jets have carried out dozens of airstrikes since after midnight, targeting places in Binnish, Taftanaz, Sarmin and near Idlib city, Qominas, Afis, Taftanaz, Saraqeb and villages east of Saraqeb, and other places in Al-Zarbeh and the frontlines in southern and south-western rural Aleppo.

Syrian Observatory sources added that regime forces made new advances, capturing Mardikh, Tal Mardikh, Kaddor and Ruwayha, located within the areas of Ma’rat al-Numan-Ariha-Saraqeb, after the withdrawal of opposition fighters from it. Regime forces seek to encircle Saraqeb and besiege it from several directions, as happend in Ma’rat Al-Nu’man, and seeking to approach Ariha and Idlib city as well.

The number of areas that have been captured by regime forces, since Friday evening 24th of this month, rose to 59, (Telmans, Ma’ar Shmasha, Dier Sharqi, Dier Gharbi, Ma’arshamarin, Ma’rata, Al-Ghadfa, Marshourin, Al-Za’alana, Al-Dana, Tal Al-Sheikh, Sawami’e, Khirbet Mzayan, Masaran, Bsida and Taqana, Babolin, Kafr Bassin, Ma’arhatat, Hamidia, Dar es Salaam, Salhiya, Kafruma, Ma’rat al-Numan, Wadi Al-Dayif, Hantotin, al-Jarada, Ruwayha, Qahiriya, Ain Halban, Tal al-Dibis, Khan al-Sobul and Ma’ardabsi, Tal Mardikh, Jobas, Hertamia, Qamhana, Abu-Jreif, Tal Khatra, Tal Mastif, Al Kana’yes, Karsian, Hish, Kafrmazda, Jabala, Mouqa, Amoudia, Armanya, Kafrbatikh, Dadikh, Luf, Anqrati, Jobas, Sinan, Zakar, Tarnaba, Al Nayrab, Mardikh, Tal Mardikh, Kaddor and Ruwayha.)

Regime security services arrest pro-regime militia commander with 20 of his members in al-Tal city in rural Damascus- SOHR

Rif-Dimashq Governorate – Syrian Observatory for Human Rights: Reliable source informed SOHR that Political Security and Military Security joint patrols carried out a raid in the city of al-Tal in rural Damascus, during which pro-regime militia commander was arrested with 20 of his members.

According to Observatory sources, the leader was arrested for carrying out continuous looting in the city illegal taxation on merchants in the city and deploying checkpoints on side roads and robbing citizens on an almost daily basis. “Shield of Qalamoun” militia, which was completely disbanded by Russian orders about a year ago, included fighters of those who made reconciliation with regime from various areas of al-Qalamoun in rural Damascus.

İdlib'de Türkiye ve Rusya arasındaki temaslar sonrası gerginlik azalıyor, bundan sonra ne olacak?- BBC Türkçe

Pazarı Pazartesiye bağlayan gece İdlib'de yaşanan gerginlik, Türkiye ve Suriye orduları arasında son dönemde yaşanan en ciddi sıcak çatışmaya neden oldu. Suriye ordusunun Türk askeri konvoyuna saldırısında yedi asker ve biri sivil Türk vatandaşı hayatını kaybetti. Milli Savunma Bakanı Hulusi Akar, Türk ordusunun 54 farklı Suriye askeri hedefini vurduğunu, 76 Suriye askerinin "etkisiz hale getirildiğini" açıkladı.
Pazartesi günü Türkiye ve Rusya Dışişleri Bakanları Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu ve Sergey Lavrov'un telefon görüşmesinin ardından gerilimin azaldığı gözleniyor. Ancak tarafların pozisyonlarından geri adım atmama kararlılığında olmaları riskin devam ettiğini gösteriyor.
Son 36 saatte yaşanan gerginlik sürecinde şu unsurlar ön plana çıkıyor:
Suriye ordusu, 2019 yılının Mayıs ayında başlattığı ve aşamalı olarak genişlettiği operasyonları stratejik hedeflerine ulaşana kadar devam ettireceğini gösterdi. Rusya'nın bu konuda tam desteğini alan Suriye yönetimi, Rusya Devlet Başkanı Vladimir Putin'in 7 Ocak'taki Şam ziyareti ardından operasyonlara daha da hız verdi.
Beşar Esad yönetiminin ilk hedefi, Eylül 2018'de Türkiye ile Rusya'nın uzlaştığı İdlib mutabakatında yer alan M4 ve M5 karayollarını "kendi kontrolünde" trafiğe açmak ve başkent Şam'ı Lazkiye ve Halep'e bağlayan ana ulaşım hattını ele geçirmek.

Çavuşoğlu: İdlib'de Rusya'ya önemli görevler düşüyor- Sputnik News

Yeniden Asya Girişimi toplantısında konuşan Dışişleri Bakanı Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, İdlib'de TSK ile Suriye Ordusu (SAA) arasında yaşanan çatışmayla ilgili olarak Rusya Dışişleri Bakanı Sergey Lavrov ile görüştüklerini söyledi. Çavuşoğlu, "İdlib'de Rusya'ya önemli görevler düşüyor" dedi.

Military Situation In Western Aleppo On February 4, 2020- South Front


This map provides a general look at the military situation in western Aleppo following recent advances by the Syrian Army against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other radical groups.

Syrian Army captures several areas in Idlib despite increased Turkish military presence- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) scored a big advance in Idlib on Tuesday when their forces began a new push at the Abu Jarif axis in the eastern part of the governorate.

According to a field report from eastern Idlib, the Syrian Arab Army captured a half dozen villages and towns on Tuesday following a fierce battle with the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS).

The Syrian Army reportedly captured the towns and villages of Kuweres, Bleisa, Tal Aghar, Al-Musheirifah, Jdeideh, and Tal Khatrah during their advance at the Abu Jarif axis in eastern Idlib.

Monday, February 03, 2020

New map of Idlib battle after Syrian Army reaches strategic highway- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:30 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) made an important advance in the northeastern part of the Idlib Governorate on Monday, as their troops managed to reach an imperative highway.


Led by the 25th Special Mission Forces Division (formerly Tiger Forces), the Syrian Arab Army kicked off the day by capturing two towns located southwest of Saraqib.
Not long after capturing these two towns, the Syrian Arab Army pressed further northwest towards the strategic Aleppo-Latakia Highway (M-4).
The Syrian Army would once again seize two towns, but this time they were able to establish their first presence along the Idlib part of the Aleppo-Latakia Highway (map below).

Army liberates Joubas, San, and Tarnaba in Idleb countryside, pursues terrorists in direction of Saraqeb- SANA

Idleb, SANA_ Syrian Arab Army Units on Monday resumed their concentrated military operations against terrorist organizations in Idleb southeastern countryside and advanced into the direction of Saraqeb after liberating the villages of Joubas, San, and Tarnaba towns and destroying the last terrorist gatherings there.
SANA reporter said that Syrian Arab Army units engaged in violent clashes with terrorists on Monday afternoon and routed them out in areas in the direction of Saraqeb, liberating the village of Tarnaba in the process, and the army is still engaged in violent clashes with terrorists in al-Nairab village north of the Aleppo-Lattakia highway between Saraqeb and Ariha.
The reporter added that units of the army killed members of a terrorist group, affiliated to the so-called “Jaish al-Fatah” in the surroundings of San town. The number of the killed terrorists reached 7 ones, some of them of foreign nationalities.
He said that with the liberation of Tarnaba and crossing the Aleppo-Lattakia highway, the army has cut off terrorists’ supply lines between the cities of Saraqeb and Ariha.
Earlier in the day, the reporter said army units had advanced in the direction of Saraqeb, liberating Joubas and San west of the city.

İdlib neden önemli, Suriye ordusunun operasyonlarında son durum ne?- BBC Türkçe

Suriye'nin kuzeybatısında, Türkiye sınırında yer alan İdlib eyaleti, hükümete karşı mücadele yürüten silahlı grupların elinde kalan son büyük yer.
Bu nedenle, Suriye'deki iç savaşın üç önemli aktörü hükümet, Rusya ve Türkiye açısından İdlib'deki gelişmeler büyük önem taşıyor.
Burası, ılımlı olarak nitelendirilen muhalif gruplar ve bazı cihatçı örgütlerin kontrolü altında bulunuyor. Bu gruplardan bazıları Türkiye'nin desteğini alıyor.
İdlib'in geri alınması halinde, Suriye Devlet Başkanı Beşar Esad ve onu destekleyen Rusya, savaşın istedikleri gibi sonuçlanmasını büyük oranda sağlamış olacaklar.
Esad, Ekim ayında bölgeye yaptığı ziyaret sırasında, İdlib'i Suriye'nin genelindeki "kaos ve terörü sonlandırmanın anahtarı" olarak nitelendirmiş ve "İdlib'deki cihatçıların yenilgiye uğratılmasıyla birlikte savaş da sona erecektir" demişti.

İdlib’de Suriye Rejimiyle Sıcak Çatışma Sürüyor- VOA


Türkiye’nin İdlib’e destek amaçlı gönderdiği askeri unsurları hedef alan Suriye Ordusu’na yönelik askeri, siyasi ve diplomatik tepkisi sürüyor.
Türkiye ile Şam rejimi, bugün itibariyle Suriye topraklarında resmen sıcak çatışma yaşıyor. Türkiye ile Suriye Ordusu arasında, ilk kez 16 Haziran 2019’da İdlib’de 9 numaralı gözlem noktasına havan topu saldırısı yapılmış, Milli Savunma Bakanlığı'nın saldırının “kasıtlı” olduğu değerlendirmesi nedeniyle karşılıklı ateş açılmıştı. Bugünse o gün karşılıklı top ateşi yapılmasıyla sınırlı kalmış çatışma durumu, sıcak çatışmaya ve can kayıpları yaşanması sürecine dönüştü.

İdlib için imzalanan Soçi Mutabakatı ne öngörüyordu?- BBC Türkçe

Suriye ordusunun bugün İdlib'de düzenlediği saldırı sonucu beş Türk askeri ve bir sivil personel hayatını kaybetti. AKP Sözcüsü Ömer Çelik, saldırının Soçi Mutabakatı'nın ihlâli olduğunu söyledi. MHP lideri Devlet Bahçeli de "Astana, Soçi ve Cenevre süreçlerinin anlam ve inandırıcılığı artık kalmamıştır" dedi.
Peki Soçi'de uzlaşılan mutabakatta neler vardı?
Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan ve Rusya Devlet Başkanı Vladimir Putin, Suriye'nin beklenen İdlib operasyonu öncesi, 17 Eylül 2018'de Rusya'nın Soçi kentinde bir araya gelerek İdlib'de silahlardan arındırılmış bir bölge kurulması üzerinde anlaşmaya vardı.
15-20 kilometre derinliğinde ve 250 kilometre uzunluğundaki silahsızlandırma şeridinin silahlı örgütlerin kontrol ettiği bölgeden geçmesi planlanıyordu.
Bunun üzerine Suriye ordusu, bir süredir planlamakta olduğu İdlib operasyonunu erteledi.

İdlib'de hangi örgütler var?- BBC Türkçe

Suriye ordusunun İdlib'de Türk konvoyuna düzenlediği saldırıda hayatını kaybedenlerin sayısı altıya yükseldi.
Şam yönetiminin Rusya'nın desteğiyle operasyonlarını sürdürdüğü İdlib'de çok sayıda cihatçı örgüt bulunuyor.
Ancak mevcut bölünmelere rağmen bölgedeki cihatçı ve muhaliflerin uzlaştığı tek bir konu var: Hükümetle herhangi bir mutabakat anlaşması imzalanmayacak, İdlib tutulacak ve teslim olunmayacak.
Eskiden El Kaide'ye bağlı olan Nusra Cephesi militanlarının kurduğu cihatçı Heyet Tahrir el-Şam (HTŞ), İdlib'deki en güçlü askeri grup.
Suriye hükümeti ve Rusya, operasyonun amacının İdlib'i "HTŞ teröristlerinden arındırmak" olduğunu söylüyor.

Jihadists kill 4 Russian soldiers in western Aleppo- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (3:40 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels allegedly killed four Russian soldiers during their attack on the Al-Zahra’a Association Quarter in western Aleppo over the weekend.

According to a bulletin shared on social media, the four Russian soldiers were killed when the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) attempted to advance in the Al-Zahra’a Association Quarter.

Sunday, February 02, 2020

Jihadists attacked Russia’s main base in Syria- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:30 P.M.) – The commander of the Russian Reconciliation Center, Major-General Yuri Borenkov, announced that the jihadist forces launched drones towards the Hmeimim Base in western Syria last night.

“At approximately 23:00 on the evening of February 1, the airspace monitoring devices of the Russian Hmeimim base monitored a group of air targets that were launched from the militants controlled areas in Idlib … These drones were intercepted by electronic warfare methods, which disrupted all of them.”

Rusya: Silahlı gruplar İdlib'deki gerilimi azaltma bölgesinde Suriye birliklerine saldırdı- Sputnik News

Rusya'nın Suriye'deki Tarafları Uzlaştırma Merkezi Başkanı Tümgeneral Yuriy Borenkov, silahlı militanların İdlib gerilimi azaltma bölgesinde saldırılarını sürdürdüklerini açıkladı.
Rusya'nın Suriye'deki Tarafları Uzlaştırma Merkezi Başkanı Tümgeneral Yuriy Borenkovyasadışı silahlı grupların İdlib'deki gerilimi azaltma bölgesinde Suriye ordusuna yönelik saldırılarını sürdürdüklerini duyurdu.

At least 200 pieces of Turkish military equipment cross border with Syria - TV- TASS

TASS, February 2. At least 200 pieces of the Turkish army’s military equipment, including armored vehicles and tanks, crossed the border with Syria on Sunday, Al Arabiya TV channel reported.

According to the report, this military convoy has been sent to Syria since early Sunday. The convoys are heading towards the Idlib and Aleppo governorates. The Turkish command has reportedly declared an area around the highway linking Aleppo and Latakia as a combat operations zone.

The Asharq Al-Aswat newspaper reported several hours ago that "at least 40 armored vehicles and tanks of the Turkish army" had crossed the border via the Kafr Lusein checkpoint in the north of the Idlib governorate.

Jihadist offensive in west Aleppo proves costly as Syrian Army troops stifle attack- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (2:00 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels launched a big counter-offensive in western Aleppo on Saturday, as their forces attempted to crack the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) defenses in the strategic Al-Zahra’a Association Quarter.

Led by Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS), the jihadist rebels began their attack on Saturday by sending suicide bombers towards the Syrian Army’s defenses east of the Great Prophet Mosque.

Following the suicide attacks which failed to reach their intended targets, the jihadist rebels stormed the Syrian Arab Army’s positions in a bid to breach their defenses west of the Air Force Intelligence headquarters.

Saturday, February 01, 2020

Army uncovers terrorist bases and tunnels in Idleb southern countryside- SANA

Idleb, SANA – While canvassing the areas and towns liberated of terrorism in Idleb’s southern countryside, Syrian Arab Army units uncovered a fortified underground base for terrorists and a network of tunnels in the village of Muqa and the town of Hish south of Maaret al-Numan city.

SANA’s reporter in Hama said that army units uncovered while canvassing the village of Muqa an underground base for “Jaish al-Fateh” terrorist group which is affiliated with Jabhat al-Nusra.
The reporter said the base, which was found in the northern outskirts of the village, contained command rooms, residential and sleeping quarters, ventilation shafts, a lighting and water network, storage facilities, and holding cells carved into the stone of a hill, all of which are connected by a series of tunnels.
The reporter also said army units uncovered a network of complicated tunnels in the town of Hish, consisting of vaults and narrow passages and living quarters beneath the southern part of the town.

In Former Syria Rebel Stronghold, Nothing was Spared- Naharnet

Once the throbbing heart of the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, Maaret al-Numan is an eerie ghost town where few buildings have been spared by nine years of war.
Following a major ground offensive, the Syrian army captured the town in the northwestern province of Idlib on Wednesday, a key prize in its push to reconquer the country's last rebel enclave.
A day after government forces moved into the deserted town and set up their first checkpoints there since 2012, the landscape was one of desolation.
Maaret al-Numan, home to around 150,000 people four months ago, is now a field of leveled or gutted buildings, where shops' iron shutters are riddled with bullet holes and shrapnel scars.
The only people left in the once-bustling town are a handful of soldiers taking up positions on the rubble-littered streets.
Majed Marahesh, 27, remembers the day he first visited Maaret al-Numan 13 years ago with his classmates and teacher. Now he has traded his schoolbooks for a rifle.
"I remember its beauty and refinement," he tells AFP. "I remember the mosaics in its museum. I am back 13 years later but it's not the town I knew."

Jihadist car bomb attacks target Syrian pro-government forces in Aleppo- Reuters

AZAZ, Syria/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian insurgents carried out two suicide car bomb attacks in an assault on pro-government forces in Aleppo on Saturday and opened a new front northeast of the city, an attempted fightback after territorial gains for President Bashar al-Assad.

Backed by Russian air power, Syrian government forces had made a significant advance into the rebel-held northwest this week, seizing the town of Maarat al-Numan, part of an offensive to secure the main highway between Damascus and Aleppo.

The suicide attacks were carried out by jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and targeted the Jamiyat al Zahraa area on the western edge of Aleppo. A third car bomb was set off by remote control, a source with the group said.

A news outlet linked to the group, Ebaa, published a video which it said showed elite Tahrir al-Sham fighters pledging “allegiance to death and jihad” before the attack on Jamiyat al-Zahraa, watched by the group’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.

The northwestern corner of Syria including Idlib province and adjoining areas of Aleppo is the last major rebel foothold in Syria, where Assad has taken back most of the ground once held by his enemies with Russian and Iranian support.

Damascus rations subsidized food with smart cards- Daily Star

DAMASCUS: Syria's government Saturday started rationing subsidized food like rice and sugar with smart cards, a ministry said, in the latest measure to address an economic crisis in the war-torn country.
The value of the Syrian pound against the dollar has plummeted on the black market in recent months, sparking price hikes on key food items.
On Saturday, thousands of Syrian families for the first time used cards with built-in microchips to track and cap their purchases of subsidised food, the ministry of internal trade and consumer protection said.
Under the new system, even the largest family cannot collect more than three kilos of rice, four kilos of sugar and one kilo of tea a month, it said on its Facebook page.
Smaller families are allowed even less according to their size.
Subsidies are key for Syrians living in government-held areas in a country where the United Nations says war has compounded poverty.

Syrian Army captures several towns to expand west towards Idlib city- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:00 P.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) scored another big advance this week after their forces made a push west towards the provincial capital of Idlib.

Led by the 25th Special Mission Forces Division (formerly Tiger Forces), the Syrian Arab Army began the day by storming a town located southeast of Saraqib.

According to a field report near the front-lines, the Syrian Army captured the town of Lawf after a brief battle with the jihadist rebels of Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS).

Following this advance, the Syrian Army began to push westward toward the Latakia-Aleppo Highway (M-4), as their troops managed to capture two towns from the retreating jihadists.

Three Hezbollah fighters killed in Maaret al-Numan- Daily Star

Abbas Mohammed Taha, a Hezbollah fighter, was buried in the Shiite stronghold of Baalbeck Friday.

HTS opens new front in Jam’eyyat Al-Zahraa west of Aleppo with fierce attack initiated by three car-bomb explosions- SOHR

Syrian Observatory sources have reported that opposition factions and jihadi groups unleashed fierce attack on positions on positions of the regime forces and loyal militias in Jam’eyyat Al-Zahraa. HTS initiated the attack with detonating three car-bombs, two car-bombs were detonated with the drivers in and the third one was remotely detonated.

The fierce clashes are accompanied by intensive shelling by both parties along with the fall of shells on the neighborhoods of Al-Zahraa, Al-Shahbaa and Halab Al-Jadidah within the western part of the regime-controlled city of Aleppo.

The clashes, shelling and car-bomb explosions left many casualties.

Observatory activists also documented gross human losses in the ranks of both warring forces who have been killed in bombardment and fierce clashes since Friday, the 24th of January 2020. 188 jihadis among 249 opposition fighters were killed so far, in addition to the killing of 245 regime soldiers and loyalists of whom there are six foreign militiamen loyal to Iran.

Jihadists launch big attack on Aleppo in attempt to alleviate pressure on allied forces- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (9:45 P.M.) – The jihadist rebels launched a big attack on the Syrian Arab Army’s (SAA) defenses in Aleppo city this evening.

Led by Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (SAA), the jihadist rebels began their offensive by storming the Syrian Arab Army’s defenses at the strategic Al-Zahra’a Association Quarter in the western part of the city.

According to a military source from the 4th Armored Division, their forces are currently engaging the jihadists in Al-Zahra’a, but he maintains that HTS and their allies have been unable to make any advances.

Friday, January 31, 2020

Syrian Army expands operations in southern Idleb, liberates more villages west of Aleppo/Hama international highway- SANA

Idleb, SANA_ The Syrian Arab Army units on Friday expanded their operations west of Aleppo / Hama international highway and liberated Hayysh town and a number of villages in the area between Khan Sheikhoun and Maarat al-Numan, inflicting losses upon terrorists in personnel and equipment.
SANA reporter said that the army units operating in Idleb countryside engaged in fierce clashes with terrorist groups west of Aleppo / Hama international highway, south of Maarat al-Numan.
The reporter added that the clashes resulted in liberating Hayysh town and the villages of al-Amiriyah, Kafr Mazdah, Tabish, al-Bala’a. Jebala, and Tal Armanai, killing and injuring a number of terrorists and destroying their weapons.
The army units continued pursuing the remnants of terrorists fleeing the lines of engagement amid a state of collapse and chaos in their ranks as a result of successive victories of the army.
On Thursday, the army units liberated Tal al-Sawater, and al-Hartmiya village on the direction of Abu al-Duhpur and the villages of Maradbas and Khan al-Sabil on both sides of Aleppo / Hama international highway after eliminating the last hotbed of terrorism.

Cadres of Idleb Antiquities protect Maarat al-Numan artifacts from looting- SANA

Idleb, SANA_ After years-long of terrorism control over Maarat al-Numan city in Idleb Governorate, the Syrian Arab Army has liberated the city and cleared it of terrorists.
With the liberation of the city, cadres of Idleb Directorate of Antiquities, hurried to the famous museum of Maarat al-Numan to check on the status of the archaeological antiquities that they hid them in a secret place inside the museum.
The cadres of Idleb Antiquities preserved the antiquities of the museum and protected them from terrorism by hiding them in a secret place.
Director of Idleb Antiquities Department Ghazi Aloulou, told SANA that the cadres, before the terrorists’ entry to the city, managed to collect the artifacts displayed in the museum’s coffers and transported them to a secret place in the cellar inside it to hide them and protect them from looting by terrorists.
Aloulou mentioned that when he arrived at the museum after the defeat of terrorism, he found that the artifacts are still in their place and are in good condition.
The artifacts include pottery pieces from various historical eras discovered during the excavations carried out by the Antiquities Directorate in the city over twenty years, a set of artifacts on display and other collections previously displayed in the museum in addition to traditional folk exhibits made of bronze and copper parts.
The status of belonging was shown by the Syrians all over the Syrian territories and in different fields whether in Idleb, Daraa, Aleppo, Deir Ezzour, Homs and many other cities and in the facilities whose workers have kept the machines and hidden them in their homes or in secret locations to protect them from terrorism and looting.
Director General of Antiquities and Museums Dr. Mahmoud Hammoud clarified that a team from the General Directorate visited Maarat al-Numan museum as soon as it was liberated from terrorism to see the damage it had caused and start the restoration operations directly.
Hammoud praised the efforts made by cadres of Antiquities and the people of the region, who helped protect the antiquities and the museum from theft, looting and vandalism, and to protect their heritage and civilization.
He pointed out that the team check on the status the mosaic pieces in the museum, stressing that they are in good condition, and that the directorate intends to intervene to quickly restore and maintain the museum for fear of collapses in some of its parts.
The statue of Abu al ‘Alaa al Ma’arri, which was destroyed by the terrorists, was collected by the General Directorate team, with the aim of restoring it and returning it as it was, Hammoud said.

France Arrests Top Syrian Islamist Group Member on War Crimes Charges- Naharnet

A senior member of Syrian Islamist armed group Jaysh al-Islam has been arrested in France and charged with war crimes and torture, a judicial source told AFP on Friday.
The man, born in 1988, a former spokesman of the group, was in France on an Erasmus student visa and detained in the southern city of Marseille. 
He appeared before an investigating magistrate in Paris who charged him with torture, war crimes and complicity in forced disappearances, said the source.

Former Jaysh Al-Islam spokesperson arrested in France- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (11:00 P.M.) – The former spokesperson for Jaysh Al-Islam, Islam Alloush, has reportedly been arrested in France on charges of war crimes, the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) reported on Friday.

“Following this complaint, Islam Alloush’s arrest on 29 January in Marseille, followed by an indictment, paves the way for the first investigation of the rebel armed group’s crimes. Majdi Mustafa Ne’ma, known by his nom de guerre Islam Alloush, was the spokesperson and a senior official of Jaysh al-Islam. The group numbered up to more than 20,000 fighters and carried out a reign of terror in the rebel areas it controlled, mainly in the Eastern Ghouta, until it lost control over them in April 2018,” the organization said.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

The Army advances in Aleppo western countryside, seizes tunnels dug by terrorists under mountains in Talat al-Sakher region- SANA

Aleppo, SANA- Units of the Syrian Arab Army on Thursday resumed their military operations to strike positions of terrorist organizations to the west and southwestern side of Aleppo, carrying out intensive artillery and rocket strikes against gatherings of Jabhat al-Nusra and its affiliated groups.
SANA reporter said that the army units advanced towards western Khan Touman axis to the south of Aleppo city and seized tunnels dug by terrorists under mountains in Talat al-Sakher region.
Many of the terrorists were killed, others were injured, and their weapons and ammo were destroyed in the army strikes. 

Syrian Army captures 2 towns in Idlib to advance within sight of Saraqib- Al-Masdar News

BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:40 A.M.) – The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has continued their advance in the Idlib countryside today as their forces attempted to push towards the strategic city of Saraqib.

Led by the 25th Special Mission Forces Division (formerly Tiger Forces, the Syrian Arab Army targeted two towns located along the main road from Ma’arat Al-Nu’man to Saraqib.

According to reports from the Idlib countryside, the Syrian Arab Army’s 25th Special Mission Forces Division captured the towns of Tal Mardikh and Jawbas after advancing north of Ma’arat Al-Nu’man.

This advance by the Syrian Arab Army comes just two days after the Syrian Arab Army announced the capture of Ma’arat Al-Nu’man from the jihadist forces in the Idlib countryside.